Combination lock



A. HOFFMAN COMBINATION LOCK July 29 1924.

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July 29 1924.

A; HOFFMAN COMBINATION LOCK Filed May 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www /NVE /Y TOR.

Patented 29, 1924:

UNlTED STATES ADSLE HOFFMAN, F LACKAWANNA, YOBKA COEIBINATION LOCK.

Application led May 18, 1923. Serial No. 639,821.

T0 @ZZ ywhom t may concer/n.:

Be it known that I, ADoLF HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at .lnickawannm county of Erie, and State of l" New York., haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Locks,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in locks and it is the principalobject of -f the invention to provide a lock for attachment to closures,doors, trunks or the like in order to prevent other than the properpersons from opening or unlocking the said closure, door or trunk.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a lock provided with aplurality of looking elements which are independently operable whichensure a locking of the closureso that the locking elements can only bedis engaged from their respective keepers by the person acquainted withthe precise operation and combination of the various parts of the lock.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a key-operatedlock which requires the use of the key in distinctly different ways tobring about its opening or closure, so that nobody not acquainted withits mechanism will be able either to unlock or to lock the lock.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become morefully apparent as the description thereof proceeds, and will then bespecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Figure 1 is a front view of a lock constructed according to the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a similar view after removal of the top plate of the lock. u

Figure 3 is a front view of the inner mechanism of the lock afterremoval of the inner top plate, partly in section along line 3*.3 ofFigure 6 showing the lock locked.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the lock on line 4--4 ofFigure 5.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the lock unlocked.

Figure 6 is a cross-section on line 6 6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a section 'ure 5.

Figure 8 is a detail view of a key.

The lock comprises the ordinary casing on line 7-7 of vFigface of theplate.

10 adapted to be inserted into a door 11 provided at its front with anornamental key hole plate 12 attached to the front face of the door bymeans of nails 13v or any other suitable fastening means and showing keyholes 14 and 14, while the jamb 15 of the door carries a keeper' plate16 provided with a plurality, for instance as shown, three, perforatedkeeper lugs 17, 18 and 19, adapted to extend into ,the lock casingthrough the slots 20, 21, 22 in the sidewall of the casing.

Space-d from the front wall of the casing, a top plate 23 is secured tothe rear wall 24 of the casing by means of screws 25, 26, and 27entering sockets 28, 29 and 30 respectively, correspondingly' mounted onrear wall 24 4of the casing. y

a This plate 23 is provided in its inner edge with recesses 31, 32, yand33 respectively, yinto which the keeper lugs 17, 18 and 19k extend asshown in Figure 2.

The topplate carries upstanding, rotatable key-holes'ockets 34 and 35with foot liangesengagingthe lower face of plate 23, and provided withslotted and recessed foot parts 36 and 37 rotating on the upper Thesefoot parts' are equipped with arcuate slots 38, 39 and 40, 41 in whichpins or screws 42, 43 and 44, 45 respectively are guided to limit therotary movements of sockets 34 and 35 in one for the other direction.

The footpart 37 has a shouldered part- 46 formed into a knife edge, andthefoot part 36 has a rounded or curved shoulder 47, while the plate 23near this ,shouldered part is providedwith an inclined slot 48, in whicha pin 49 is displaceable, which is depending from the lower end face ofa leaf spring 50, which is integral with a spring leaf 51 attached tothe casing 10 by means of rivets 52, 53 and carries at its opposite enda leaf spring 54 which is similar to spring 50 and the lower'outer edgeof which is adapted to be engaged by knife edge 46 adapted to liftspring 54.

The leaf springs 50 and 54 carry at their lower faces depending pins 55and 56y adapted to pass through openings in plate 23 for a purposehereafter more fully to be described.

A bolt 57 vis sliding between the foot parts 36 and 37 on top of plate'23 and is guided thereon by means of lugs 58, 59

lil

on plate 23 which vengage into. slots 60 and 61 ofbolt 57.

The plate 23 is also provided with an arcuate or curved slot 62 near theleft hand end of foot part 36 in which a depending pin 63 of this footpart is displaceable, to which one end of a spring 64 is attached to apin 65 secured to theY lower face of plate 23, to which is also securedone end of a spring 66 attached with its other end to a pin 67 dependingfrom latch 57 and guided within a slot 68 of plate 23. Another spring 69is secured at one end toa pin 70 depending from plate 23, while itsother end is attached to a lpin 71 depending from foot ypart 37 andworking in -a slot 72V of plate 23. One end of latch 57 has a shoulder73 adapted to engage shoulder 74 of foot part 37, While the opposite endof latch 57 has a finger 75 formed therewith having arcurved outer edgeadapted to slide along the similarly curved outer face of foot part 36and roll itself olf on the same.

To the inner face of the rear wall 24 of the casing and described above,the socket l29 is secured and to this socket is pivotally attachedintermediate its ends, the pawl 76 provided with ahook r77 a-t its upperend adapted to engage the central. keeper lug 18.

t its lower end the pawl 76 is pivotally secured, as at 7 8 to a plate79 slidably guided on the inner face of the rear wall 24 by means of apin 80 in the rear wall engaging lin a slot 81 of plate 79, while aspring 32 wound intermediate its ends around pin 83 is pressing with oneof its ends plate 79 downwards, while its other end is resting againstsocket 30. A pawl 84 secured to the innerend of a pin 35 is rotatabletherewith, extends through the rear wall 24, and carries on the outsideof the same an operatingl knob 86 by means of which the pawl 34 can beoperated to engage a shoulder 87 o-f plate 7 9, while the rotation ofthe pawl 34 in the opposite direction islimited by a pin 38 in the rearwall 24.

An arm 89 ispivotally secured at its rear end to a pin 90 in the rearwall of the casing, and a spring 91 resting with one end against a post92 in the rear wall engages a slot. in the upper edge of arm 89 andtends to press the same downwardly. In its lower edge the arm isprovided intermediate its ends with a shoulder 93 and near its lower endwith a1 recess 94, while at its lowermost point its end is cut away asat V95. Y

A plate'96 is slidably arranged on top of Y arm 89,'andis guided bymeans of the re- 'duced upper ends 97 of post92 and 93 of post99engaging into'slots 100 and 101 in the plate. Plate 96carrie-s near itsupper end a locking` finger 102 adapted Yto engageVV keeper lug 17. Y

1 To a pin 103 on plate 96 a dog 104 is Vpivotally secured at one end,and a spring 105 wound intermediate its ends around a pinV 106 on. plate96 engages with one endV the outer upper end of dog 104 and tends topress the same outwardly so that the shout der107 at its other endengages a pin 103 J gages a pin 113 also mounted on plate 96.

The lower end of dog 104 is formed with a slot 114. The base plate 24carries also two guide pins 115 and 116 adapted to be engaged in thelongitudinal bore 117 of key 113 which is equipped with a bit 119 of anywell known construction.

vThe arm 39, plate 96, dog 104, and pawl 103 are duplicated above pawl76, are however directed in opposite directions and plate 96 carries' anupper finger 120 adapted to engage keeper lug` 19, and its inner edge iscurved as at 121 in vorder to accommodate socket Y29.

1t is therefore believed a detailed description of these parts will notbe required.V

The lock operates in the following inanner:

Supposing thelock is locked, asV illustrated in Figure 3, and it isdesired to open the same: The operator will insert the key into theupper key socket- 34 and turn it clockwise until its bit is beneathinclined slot 43 Fig. 6), he will then raise the key and its ybit willlift pin 49 and leaf spring 50 as well as the pin 55 connectedtherewith. This pin, shown in Figure 3 rests during the locked state oftheV lock in slot 114 of dog 104 locking the same against movement; thedog evidently will now be free to move laterally and outwardly wider theaction of spring 122, which at yone end is secured in plate 96, whileits other end presses against a pin 123 depending from the dog 104, sothat its slot 114comes outof the path of pin 55.v llVhen now the key iswithdrawn from key hole 14 until the lower edge of its bit is in oneplanewith foot! part 36 of socket Y34 and thel key is turned clockwise',it will rotate foot partp36 against the action of spring 64.v whilespring` V66 will tend to lli" press linger 75 of latch 57 intoengagement with the shouldered part 124 of the foot part which willholdlatch 57in its upper position with its'end or shoulder 73 disengagedfrom the shoulder 74 of foot part 37,

allowing an operation of'socket 35. Now the key is placed into the lowerkey hole 14 until its 'bit is in one plane with the Vfoot part 37 and isthen turned anti-clockwise, this movement will bring the knife edge 46under leaf spring 54 and lift its pin y56 out of engagement with opening114 in the lower dog 104.

rihis dog will now be free to move laterally outwards under the actionof spring 125 secured at one end in plate 96 and with its other endengaging a depending pin 126 of dog 104.

The key is then again placed into key hole 14 and turned anti-clockwiseso that its bit travels along curve 127 on the inner edge of arm 89 todisplace ,this arm with its recess 94 out of engagement with pin 128depending from plate 96.

A continued rotation of the key in the same direction will engage itsbit with the inclined end 129 of dog 104 and will move this dog, andplate 96 somewhat upwards, as shoulder 107 of dog 104 is engaging pin108 of plate 96. After the bit of the key has passed shoulder 129, acontinued rotation of the key in anti-clockwise direction will engageits bit with the left hand edge of pawl 108 and carry thesame and plate96 upwards until pin 128 comes into engagement with shoulder 95 of arm89 and finger 120 is out of engagement with keeper lug 19. Theengagement of pin 128 with shoulder 95 will prevent a motion of theparts in either direction and the pawl 108 yielding under the continuedpressure by the bit will turn around its pivot point 109 and will allowthe passage of the bit of the key and a withdrawal of the same.

The upper part of the lock is now un` locked. The unlocking of the lowerpart is e'ected in a similar manner by the introduction of the key intokey hole 14, and clockwise rotation of the same, so that its bit willengage the lower edge of plate 79 and press the same towards the top,which will disengage pawl 76 or its hook 77 respectively from the keeper18. A continued rotation of the key will bring its bit into engagementwith the left hand edge of arm 89 and displace the same towards theright, disengaging its recess 94 from pin 128 depending from plate 96. Acontinued rotation of the key in the same direction will bring its bitinto engagement with the inclined end 129 of dog 104 and will move thisdog and plate 96 somewhat downwards as shoulder 107 of dog 104 isengaging pin 108 of plate 96.

After the bit of the key has passed shoulder 129, a continued rotationof the key in clockwise direction will engage its bit again intoengagement with the lower edge of plate 79 which in the meantime underthe action of spring 82 has been displaced downwardly, and again liftthe same. A continued rot-ation will now bring the bit of the key intoengagement with pawl 108 and carry the same and plate 96 downwards untilpin 128 comes into engagement with shoulder 95 of arm 89 and finger 102out of engagement with keeper lug 17. The engagement of pin 128 withshoulder 95 will prevent a motion of the parts in either direction. Acontinued rotation of the key will thenA again bring its bit intoengagement with the lower edge of plate 79 to press the same upwardsagainst the action of spring 82 and will bring hook 77 of pawl 76 out ofengagement with keeper lug 18 and the lock will be open. The plate 79can he kept in its elevated position by an operation of pawl 84 by meansof its knob L86 brings its'side edge into engagement with the shoulder87 of plate 79.

The locking of the lock is effected by the same operation in reversedorder.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lock including a pair of sliding bolts and a locking hook arrangedbetween said bolts, means for normally locking the sliding bolts againstdisplacement, means for oper ating the locking hook independently of thesliding bolts, and independent keyoperated sockets for releasing thelocking means.

2. A lock comprising a pair of sliding bolts and a locking hook betweenboth bolts, means for operating and locking said hook independently ofsaid sliding bolts, means for normally locking said sliding boltsagainst displacement, and a leaf spring carrying saidrlocking means, apair of rotatable key sockets, means for normally locking said socketsagainst movement, and means for releasing said last named locking meansand sockets by a key for releasing the locking melans to allow theoperation of the lock by a rey.

3. A lock comprising a pair of sliding bolts, a central locking hookbetween said bolts, means for operating said hook, perforated dogs onsaid bolts, a leaf spring comprising two plates, pins on said platesadapted to enter the perforations of said dogs for normally locking saidbolts, apair of rotatable key sockets, a slotted base plate for saidsockets, said pins adapted to be dis engaged from said dogs by thelifting of said plates by means of a key adapted to pass with its bitthrough the slot in said base plate, means for locking the socketsagainst rotation, and means for releasing said last named locking meansupon the lifting of said plates.

4. lock comprising a pair of pivoted arms, a pair of sliding platescarrying locking ngers, a locking hook pivoted intermediate its endsbetween said sliding plates, means for manually operating said hook,means allowing an operation of said hook by means of a key bit, a pairof perforated dogs on said sliding plates, means for connecting arms andplates, pins for connecting dogs and plates, a pair of' spring" plates,pins on said plates adapted to engage the perforations of said dogs, apair oi rotatable key sockets adapted toy allowan elevation of said pinsfrom the slots in said dogs to permit the unlocking of the lock, asliding locking bolt for said sockets, and means for allowing a releaseof said bolt upon the elevation of said spring plates.

5.V In a lock of the 'class deseribed, an in ner perforated and slottedtop plate, two rotatable *keyr socketsV on said plate, foot flanges onsaid sockets, means Jfor limiting the rotation of 4said sockets ineither direction, leaf spring plates, a pin on one ot said platesadapted to engage the slot in said top plate, a locking bolt for bothsockets, a spring for normally pressing said bolt into its lockingposition and allowing a release of both sockets upon the release of saidspring plates by the operation of one of the sockets by a key.

6. In a look of the class described, a central locking hook pivotedintermediate its ends, a recessed sliding plate to which the lower endof saidhook is pivoted adapted to f be operated by the bit of a keyformoving said hook into its locking positioma spring for pressing saidplate to move the hook-Y 1nto itsunlocking position, anl operating knoband a pawl on said knob adapted to engage in the recessk of said platefor allowing a manual operation of said locking hook.

7.V In a lock of the class described comprising-a casing, a pairof'recessed arms-pivotally secured atv one of their ends to the baseplate of said casing, a pair of recessed sliding plates, pins connectingand looking said plates to said arms, locking fingers on said plates,perforated dogs pivotally secured at one end to said plate shouldered attheir opposite ends to engage pins onV said plates, and means fornormally locking said dogs and plates against movement, allowing arelease of said plates and locking iingers upon the` operation of thelock by a key in the hands of a person knowing certain 4secrets.

In testimony whereof I have afiiXed my signature.

ADOLF HOFFMAN.

